Authorities say two foreign tankers were hit by explosions near the port of Umm Qasr, in the Iraqi city of Basra, CNN reports.

The head of the General Company for Iraqi ports says it has rescued 38 crew members from the vessels, and one person has died, in comments cited by the Iraqi news agency.

Iran claimed responsibility for the attacks, saying an underwater drone "destroyed two oil tankers in the Persian Gulf tonight," according to Iranian state broadcaster IRIB.

Earlier, an Iraqi security source in Basra told CNN that the two ships were believed to have been attacked by an Iranian explosives-laden vessel.

A video verified by CNN shows two oil tankers on fire, with flames spreading across the water, likely the result of an oil spill. Ship tracking data show that the attacked ships were anchored next to each other when the fire broke out.

They are the Maltese-flagged Zefyros tanker and the Marshall Islands-flagged Safesea Vishnu tanker. The Safesea Vishnu is registered to the American company Safesea Transport Inc., while the Zefyros is owned by a Greek company.

Iraqi oil marketing company SOMO said the ships were attacked in the “side loading zone of Iraqi territorial waters.” The Zefyros was preparing to enter the port of Khor Al Zubair and was transporting condensate for Basra Gas Company, the company said.

Two dry cargo ships and a container ship were attacked in the Persian Gulf yesterday.